| Author | |
teaperry
Forum Newbie
Joined: Jan 10 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6
|
| Posted: Jan 11 2008 at 12:18am | IP Logged
|
 |
|
First, I want to say that I just learned about this forum, and already I feel so much better about the struggles I have been having. It seems my frustrations are common ones.
I converted to Catholicism a few years ago. I have two boys that I homeschool, ages 8 and 7. I also have a one year old. Oh yeah, my husband is on his fourth deployment. This one is for fifteen months.
We,too, have tried many curriculums. Some work okay- but many haven't. I am still looking for that outstanding, hands-on, Charlotte Mason type of curriculum that excites my children. (They usually moan and groan when lessons are mentioned.)
Someone told me about BJU. So I looked it up, and decided to try it. I was very impressed by how well it was layed out, how the subject material was cross-referenced throughout the curriculum, and how it referenced Biblical concepts in everything. We are using the 3rd grade curriculum, and I haven't come across anything that seems anti-Catholic-- yet.
But I am now concerned about using BJU with the comments of anti-Catholicism mention in the forum. I feel so clueless. Will someone fill me in?
My boys seem typical. They like read-alouds, and really take to learning if they don't feel like someone is teaching them. So field trips, living books, and hands-on projects work great for them. They don't like writing, and seem to be behind in their ability or willingness to write. I am not the most disciplined, and frequently feel quite overwhelmed. Does anyone have a suggestion of a curriculum we might use?
(I just ordered a Noeo Science curriculum. We also use Abeka History- and soon A History of the World 1. The Baltimore Catechism, and various other books and resources.)
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
folklaur
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2816
|
| Posted: Jan 11 2008 at 12:29am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Have you looked into Sonlight or Winter Promise? Both use many readers/read alouds, and Sonlight especially has a very "living books" approach. However, they don't have much hands-on stuff, but a quick google of "Sonlight gravy" will give you lots of ideas for activites to do.
Winter Promise has more hands-on, with notebooking pages, paper craft, and website and movie/documentary suggestions.
These are both Christian, though not Catholic, companies. There is a yahoo group, Sonlight Catholic, which will give you a heads-up on any anti-Catholic material and suggestions for alternate titles.
You may want to check here for some information on why you may want to steer clear of BJU.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
teaperry
Forum Newbie
Joined: Jan 10 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6
|
| Posted: Jan 11 2008 at 12:42am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Wow, it is 1:30a.m. here. I didn't expect an answer so quicky. Thanks for the website reference.
We have tried Sonlight. I like their read-aloud curriculum and their history. But after several months of using it (at the 1st grade level), it just felt old. I guess we were just bored of it.
I still refer to their lists though. We may have to go back to them. I guess I could just incorporate my own hands-own projects.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
teaperry
Forum Newbie
Joined: Jan 10 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6
|
| Posted: Jan 11 2008 at 12:44am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Hands-on project! It is time for bed! 
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
teaperry
Forum Newbie
Joined: Jan 10 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6
|
| Posted: Jan 11 2008 at 12:49am | IP Logged
|
|
|
I just took a quick look at the Winter Promise website. THANKS! It looks great. I'm going to look into it more tomorrow!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
folklaur
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 2816
|
| Posted: Jan 11 2008 at 12:55am | IP Logged
|
|
|
teaperry wrote:
Wow, it is 1:30a.m. here. I didn't expect an answer so quicky.
|
|
|
 Well, I am a few hours behind you, on West Coast time, but yeah, I should be in bed, too.
I use the book lists from both SL and WP. As a jumping off point if nothing else. Hope you find something that will work for you!!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
MaryM
Board Moderator
Joined: Feb 11 2005
Location: Colorado
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 13104
|
| Posted: Jan 11 2008 at 1:00am | IP Logged
|
|
|
The anti-Catholic bias is in some of the history and science texts but is not necessarily evident at every grade level.
__________________
Mary M. in Denver
Our Domestic Church
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Heliodora
Forum Rookie
Joined: Jan 07 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 79
|
| Posted: Jan 11 2008 at 1:41am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Teaperry, Welcome to you from another newbie. 
We are currently ten months into a 15 month deployment- we just spent the third Christmas in five years without him. I know what you are going through.
The only BJU books I have ever used are the fourth grade science books- I have used them to help along unit studies, and we liked them. Although I do resort to using some Protestant texts myself, I'd rather not support an organization that is so rabidly anti-Catholic.
Have you ever looked at Seton books? I know that they aren't CM, but they are beautiful, and thoroughly Catholic. You wouldn't have to second guess anything, and you would be getting books that expose your children to many Catholic things, such as art and poetry that they'd never get from a Protestant text.
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
Mary G
Forum All-Star
Joined: Feb 07 2005
Location: Virginia
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5790
|
| Posted: Jan 11 2008 at 4:52am | IP Logged
|
|
|
MaryM wrote:
| The anti-Catholic bias is in some of the history and science texts but is not necessarily evident at every grade level. |
|
|
One of the problems you'll probably have using BJU, especially as a new Catholic, is that often the anti-Catholic bias is not overt, but rather covert. In their scriptural quotes, they won't be using the complete Bible or will focus on part of a verse without looking at the whole verse.
BJU IS a wonderful curriculum, but you really do need to be quite careful. BJU itself, in Greenville, SC is a wonderful place for college, but again many of the anti-Catholic biases as overt as well as covert. The best Christian religious art museum this side of the Vatican is housed at BJU ... but they don't understand the significance of many of the objects nor the meaning of much of the symbolism (until dh and I went with a Catholic school group and dh explained many to the curator  ).
Where are you located? Maybe you could find a solid Catholic homeschooling group who could help answer your questions/concerns; or maybe your pastor could help go thru the curriculum with you and point out the errors or biases.
__________________
MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
8kids4me
Forum Pro
Joined: May 03 2006
Location: New York
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 328
|
| Posted: Jan 11 2008 at 6:04am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Welcome to the group!!! My son is in Iraq, second deployment, 3ID(Hunter AAF).
I used BJU back in the very early 90's, when I didn't know/couldn't find Catholic materials. The anti Catholic bias gets really bad at the middle school and high school levels.
__________________
Cindy B, mama to 8 great kids, and 5 grandbabies!
http://www.magnolialane.wordpress.com
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
hylabrook1
Forum Moderator
Joined: July 09 2006
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 5980
|
| Posted: Jan 11 2008 at 6:16am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We are using BJ Spanish I (High school). The course is very thorough and well laid out, so we push on. There are many pot-shots at Catholicism; we actually have had a few good laughs over the obvious misinformation on which these comments are based.
Peace,
Nancy
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
teaperry
Forum Newbie
Joined: Jan 10 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6
|
| Posted: Jan 11 2008 at 10:09am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Thanks to you all for responding. I have been watchful of what was in the curriculum- knowing that it wasn't Catholic, but I will be even more diligent about scanning everything now that I have heard from you.
Heliodora, you are right about maybe needing to stay with Seton b/c we can be assured of what is being taught. We used it in K, and liked it fine. (And always I supplement everything.) So I guess we will finish out the year with BJU, while searching for more suitable options. Tapestry of Grace is looking good too.
Good to hear, too, from all the others with loved ones deployed. Blessings of Peace to all!
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
mavmama
Forum All-Star
Joined: Nov 01 2006
Location: N/A
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 618
|
| Posted: Jan 11 2008 at 10:20am | IP Logged
|
|
|
Hi Tea! I'm so glad you found your way here--I was hoping the address was right
This is where I have found all sorts of wonderful ideas and wonderful, Catholic ladies. Welcome! I will call Saturday as planned...
__________________
Liz
Blessed by 4 wonders
dd11, dd911, ds9, ds8
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
teaperry
Forum Newbie
Joined: Jan 10 2008
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 6
|
| Posted: Jan 11 2008 at 12:38pm | IP Logged
|
|
|
Hi Liz!
I wanted to call you this morning b/c I was so excited about the forum- and the lap books/notebooking. Thank you!  (We had already bought materials for notebooking, but the lap books would be a great alternative to add variety.)
And as you can see, I was a little shocked to learn about BJU being so anti-Catholic.   (You didn't say anything when I told you what we used. Were you aware? )
We will be gone most of Saturday...scouts, TKD, and my eight yr. old is taking me out to dinner to help me celebrate my 17 yr. wedding anniv. while Dad is away! (He asked if that meant he could drive! )
We should be home late in the evening. If not, hopefully we will see you Sunday! Perhaps we can get together for a playdate next Friday afternoon- or Saturday if our calendars are clear?
Talk to you soon! T-
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
mariB
Forum All-Star
Joined: Dec 20 2006
Location: Vermont
Online Status: Offline
Posts: 3815
|
| Posted: Jan 12 2008 at 6:00am | IP Logged
|
|
|
We have used lots of the BJU materials. I have used math up to grade 5(I don't like the spiral method in math in the early grades and this teaches one concept in each chapter thoroughly with only 15 problems), spelling to grade 5(word families which I love), and the English workbooks up to grade 4(I've never used the new ones yet I try to find the older version) and I love them and will continue to use them...like Mary Kay Clark says in her book(paraphrased) "I'd rather support a Christian supplier of textbooks than secular."And Seton does use some of their science materials.
I had a battle within too about using BJU a few years ago, but my children really like the books we use and it is working for us.
I couldn't really use anything else from BJU because of the overt anti-catholic comments within their materials. I am a catholic revert so i like to be careful with what we use. I don't know if anyone has mentioned Catholic Heritage Curricula...(sorry I can't link here yet) Their materials are beautiful:)
Blessings,
__________________
marib-Mother to 22ds,21ds,18ds,15dd,11dd and wife to an amazing man for 23 years
|
| Back to Top |
|
| |
4Real Forums : Living Learning
Topic: Bob Jones University Press
